Lineman&#39;s safety device.



No. 869,382. PATENTEDEOUT. 29. 1907. w. P. NEWTON.

LINEMANS SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION 111L111) APR.19, 1901.

l/VVENTUR WILLIAM F. NEWTON, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

LINEMAN S SAFETY DEVICE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed April 19 1907- Serial No. 369,128.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM F. NEWTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Linemans Safety Device. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety device for use particularly by telegraph linemen but it is equally applicable to all persons who are compelled to climb poles, flag staffs and similar structures; the object being to provide a simple, and convenient device comprising a curved plate having two downwardly projecting spurs on its concaved side and a hand grip at each end. Suitable connecting straps are attached to each end of the device and pass from thence to a belt fastened around the waist of any person who is about to climb a pole. In connection with the aforesaid plate is a pivoted arm on the outside thereof carrying a roller which is adapted to pass through an opening in said plate and extend beyond the spurs previously mentioned to keep said spurs when so desired from engaging with the pole.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the safety device attached to a man in the act of climbing a pole. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the safety device with a portion of the connecting straps attached thereto, the device for disengaging the spurs being in operative position. Fig. 3 is a view of the safety device similar to Fig. 2, but with a portion broken away and the disengaging device swung aside. Fig. i is an inside view of the plate showing the spurs attached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The body of the device is formed of a plate 1 made preferably of thin steel with its greatest dimension in a horizontal direction, and having vertical slots 2 near its ends in which are secured straps or other flexible connections 3 provided at their free ends with metal rings 4. In the center of the plate 2 is an opening 5, While projecting inwardly and downwardly on each side of said opening is a spur 6 extending a short distance from the concave face of said plate. Secured to the plate 1 on its outer side and at its top and bottom edge by means of rivets or other secure fastening devices is a strengthening rib 7, made in this instance of round bar metal which ribs project beyond the ends of the plate and are formed into handles or grips 8 which when in use are grasped by the hands as clearly represented in Fig. 1.

Pivoted on the outside of the plate 1 to a vertical bar 9 which serves as a journal, is a hand lever 10 broad at its pivotal end but gradually reducing in size towards its free end 11 to form a convenient handle for manipulating the lever. Projecting inwardly from the lever 10 are two lugs 12 parallel to each other and suitably spaced, between which is placed a roller 13 journaled in said lugs. The position of the lugs and roller on the handle is such that when moved to the position indicated in Fig. 2 said roller and lugs will pass through the opening 5 in the plate 1 and extend inwardly beyond the plane of the spurs 6.

To use the device a belt 14 is strapped around a mans waist, on each side of which is securely fastened a strap 15, the free end of which is divided longitudinally to form two straps 16 on the ends of which are pivotally attached snap hooks 17. In applying the device, the belt having been strapped around the waist of the person about to climb a pole, the snap hooks 17 at the end of one of the straps 15 are connected to one of the rings l on the dcvicewhich latter is passed around the pole to be climbed and the snap hooks on the strap 15 on the opposite side of the belt connected to the other ring 4. The person now proceeds to climb the pole, using for the purpose in the instance shown in the drawings, the ordinary climbers attached to the legs, grasping firmly in his hands the grips 8 and raising intermittently the safety device. By leaning backwardly every time the device is raised the spurs 6 sink into the wood and prevent the climber falling should his feet give away. It will thus be seen that a pole ol any height may be ascended or descended with perfect safety as any downward pressure on the device will cause the spurs to enter the pole.

It is sometimes desirable to use the device without the spurs engaging the pole, and it is for this purpose that the disengaging device 10 is employed. By swinging it around to the position indicated in Fig. 2 and grasping it in the fingers so that the roller 13 will project beyond the spurs (3, the safety device will readily travel up and down the pole without danger of the spurs engaging therewith.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed 1. In a device of the class described, a body plate having downwardly projecting spurs on its inner side, a hand grip at either end and means for attaching said plate to the belt of a climber.

2. In a device of the class described, a curved body plate having a plurality of downwardly projecting spurs on the inner side of said curved plate, an opening being formed in the end of said plate for the attachment of flexible connec tions to the body of a climber, a strengthening rib on the top and bottom edges oi said plate, and a hand grip at each end of said plate.

3. In a device of the class described, a curved body plate having a plurality of downwardly projecting spurs, an opening at each end of said plate, and a strengthening rib attached to the top and bottom of said plate and extended at the ends of said plate to form hand grips.

4. In a device of the class described, a body plate having a hand grip at each end, spurs 0n the inner side of said plate projecting downwardly, and a disengaging device pivoted to said body plate and adapted to pass through an opening therein beyond the points of said spur.

5'. In a device of the class described, a body plate having a hand grip at each end, downwardly projecting spurs 0n the inner side of said plate and a disengaging device pivoted to said plate comprising a pivoted roller attached 1O thereto and adapted to extend through an opening in said plate beyond the points of the spurs, and an operating handle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM F. NEWTON.

Witnesses DAVID HERMAN, S. S. BAssn'r'r. 

